Cherokee Stingrays Swim Team

For more than 60 years, Cherokee's Swim Team has been an integral part of our Club. The Stingrays are a competitive youth swim team competing in the Country Club Swim League (CCSL) of Atlanta. The team is a time-honored tradition and a point of pride for our Cherokee community.

About the Stingrays

The Rays allow swimmers to work on technique, learn the basics of racing, and understand the value of effort and teamwork. Out of the pool, Rays and their families cultivate community and lasting friendships.

Competitions

Starting at the very end of May and throughout June, dual meets are held each Monday evening.** Swimmers aged 5 - 14 (as of May 20) compete in those dual meets with every team in the league: Capital City Club, Ansley Golf Club, Druid Hills Golf Club, and Piedmont Driving Club.  

Held at the end of June, the CCSL Championship Meet brings the fastest swimmers from all five teams together at the end of the season at Georgia Tech’s McAuley Aquatic Center, host of the 1996 Olympic swimming competition. In order to qualify to swim in Championships, a swimmer must compete in at least ONE duel meet per season. Click here for more information on Championships.

**Note that each team has one bi-week, and the meet week of Memorial day is held on Tuesday.

Practices

Our practices are generally offered after school from April through the first meet and in both the mornings and afternoons from the first meet through late June. Team events are held throughout June to reward swimmers’ efforts and provide opportunities for fun and community!

Junior Rays

The Junior Rays program is a developmental/pre-competitive program meant to introduce swimmers to competitive swimming in a friendly and fun environment. They work towards swimming a full lap of freestyle and backstroke and learn how to race in lanes for times. Junior Rays have separate, smaller meets and events in June but they may also qualify to swim with the Stingrays throughout the season. Please note, swimmers must at least 4 years of age.

Frequently Asked Registration Questions

What Ages Can Join? 

We welcome ages 4 to 14 to join our swim program. Each younger swimmer will be evaluated at the beginning of the season and place in a program appropriate to their abilities.  

Why Should My Child Join Swim Team? 

• Does your child play another sport? Swimming is an elite cross-training tool that directly enhances performance in other sports. Swimming boosts cardiovascular and lung capacity, builds low-impact full-body strength, and accelerates active recovery. Because water is roughly 800 times denser than air, it forces muscles to work harder under constant resistance while completely removing the joint stress common in land-based sports. Mentally, swimming lowers cortisol levels, and trains the mind to stay calm while momentarily deprived of air, which translates directly to high-pressure moments in sports and academics. Baseball, soccer, lacrosse - all pair perfectly with swimming. 
• Swimmers are a part of our team: While solo sports heavily emphasize self-reliance, team environments create built-in social support networks and foster collaboration with shared responsibility - all skills essential for real-world success.
• Swimmers build friendships and families meet members of the Cherokee community!

What If We have Other Summer Sports? 

Not a problem. Most of the children on the team have other activities from April-July. There is no practice attendance requirement or requirement to attend every meet. Attend as much as you can and understand that the more your swimmer invests, the better the results! 

What If My Swimmer Can't Make Practice or Can Only Make a Few Meets?

We recognize that every Ray is on their own journey with a hectic schedule BUT every meet, event, and Ray is vital to the success of this team. Some swimmer have year-round programs apart from Cherokee and only attend meets and awards nights and some do what they can. We welcome all, however, what your swimmer invests into this program is what they get out of it thus we encourage a much participation as possible. At the end of the day, we are a TEAM!

What If My Child Isn't a Strong Swimmer? 

This is a recreational league, not an Olympic training ground. Every child swims in every dual meet. The objective is progress, not perfection. 

My Child is 10 or Older, Is It Too Late to Get Started? 

Absolutely not. Last season, we welcomed swimmers who joined as late as age 14 and used swimming as cross-training for other sports. The team’s greatest need is for children older than 10. Again, skill level is not the priority. The children aged 11 and up can also attend the league dance (all clubs) and the 13-14 year olds have multiple social activities like a trips to Six Flags. As part of the traditional senior gift, registration fees are waived for 13 and 14 year old swimmers.